Indigenous
People in the 21st Century
Wilma Mankiller. eJournal, June 2009.
Being an indigenous person in modern times means balancing revered traditions,
culture, and languages with the demands of a world dominated by technology.
Mankiller is former chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Living
Traditions of Native America
Gabrielle Tayac. eJournal, June 2009
Coming to terms with a rich and ancient tradition, years of struggle
and discrimination, and life in modern times, Native peoples must juggle
the valuable old with the new. Historian Tayac is of Piscataway descent.

U.S.
Honors Contributions of American Indians, Alaska NativesAmerica.gov, November 3, 2008.
Each November, National American Indian Heritage Month pays tribute
to the legacy of the American Indians and Alaska Natives — the
first Americans — and celebrates their enduring contributions
to the history and culture of the United States.Today,
there are nearly 5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in the
United States, or 1.6 percent of the total population, and this is expected
to jump to 8.6 million, or 2 percent of the population, by 2050. Most
American Indians live in metropolitan areas and not on the 227,000 square
kilometers of land held in trust for reservations. The states with the
highest percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives are Alaska
(18 percent of its population), Oklahoma (11 percent) and New Mexico
(10 percent). There
are 562 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States. The
largest, by far, are the Cherokee and Navajo nations, according to the
2000 U.S. census....

Navajo
Textbook Aims to Preserve Language, Culture
New Mexico is first state to approve Native American language text.
By Jeffrey Thomas. America.gov, August 5, 2008.
In many countries with indigenous populations, how these groups adapt
to the modern world while protecting their own cultures is an important
question. It therefore was reported widely when New Mexico in July became
the first U.S. state to approve a textbook that teaches a Native American
language -- Diné Bizaad Bínáhoo'aah or Rediscovering
the Navajo Language. Native North American languages are spoken by about
380,000 Americans, according to the 2000 census. The Navajo Nation numbers
almost 300,000 people, of whom about 178,000 speak the Navajo language,
making it the most widely spoken Native American language....

American Indians Seek Greater Understanding, RecognitionBy Jeffrey Thomas, America.gov, October 18, 2007.
“Maybe you should just tell them that we still exist,” an American Indian told the moderator of a focus group during a recent study that not only has highlighted continuing misconceptions about American Indians, but also has revealed the sympathy with which many Americans view Indians’ history and desire to learn more about their past and present...

National Powwow Honors American Indian Cultural TraditionsBy Lauren Monsen, America.gov, August 14, 2007.
Since the late 19th century, powwows have been a significant social and cultural force in the lives of the indigenous people of North America. Bringing together American Indians from different tribes to dance, sing and share traditions, these social events are held throughout the United States from March to September, but the largest on the East Coast is the National Powwow, a biennial event in Washington that attracts members of some 250 tribal nations from the United States and Canada...

United States Respects Indian Tribes' Right to Self-DeterminationIndian tribes retain unique sovereign status as "domestic dependent nations". By Peggy B. Hu and Jeffrey Thomas. America. gov, November 6, 2006.
Many people are puzzled when they hear the U.S. president use such phrases as “government-to-government basis with tribal governments,” “tribal sovereignty” or “self-determination” for American Indians. Isn’t the United States “one nation ... indivisible," as the Pledge of Allegiance says?
The answer is more interesting than a simple “yes” or “no.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Tribal Justice, American Indian tribes are considered "domestic dependent nations" within the United States. As such, they retain sovereign powers over their members and territory except where such powers specifically have been modified by U.S. law. American Indians are more than members of a racial minority group in the United States; they are indigenous people of the Americas with a status akin to dual citizenship.